Academy Street School Added As Historic Landmark

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By
Sarah Cantey

Dozens gathered for the Academy Street High School reunion, where the school now has a special marker outside.

It’s been added to the list of Alabama’s register of landmarks and heritage.

Academy Street High School grew from a two-room, two grade school to a high school from 1906 to 1970. It was a school for African American students before desegregation.

Lewis Gillis, attorney and an organizer for the event said, “My brothers, my sisters, all ten of us attended at one time Academy Street High School. And it just means a lot spirit wise for us to restore this building, it is a good building, this is a good location and we just want to see it be put to use.”

Right now the city uses the building as a voting precinct. But leaders are looking into partnerships and grants to fix it up and make it accessible to the community.